T: Escape or Not?

I don't own Ronin Warriors. Set at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rowen Hashiba hurried through the halls of the university he had decided to attend in America. He remembered the expression on the other Ronins faces when he had told them the news, he would be going to a college in America. Talpa was killed, so there was no reason to really stay in Japan, other than to still see the other Ronins.

He would have stayed in Japan too, but for two things that happened. His father found him alone one night, and was able to hit him several times before Sage and the others saved him. After being forced from the room his father screamed out that he would come back and kill Rowen. That had almost been too much for Rowen. Then one day about a week later, when Mia had brought in the mail there was a letter for Rowen. Someone had entered his name to an American university. They had accepted him, a full scholarship.

He thought about it only for a couple of days then reached his decision, he would be going. He told Sage first, then everyone else. While they where all happy for him, they where also sad, Rowen was the first of their group that was making such a move. It was one thing to lose contact while you where still in the same country. You always knew if you needed to see any of the others they could be to you in 24 hours. America was a long way away. Going the legal way they would need to get visas. Going illegal, they would need to sneak in, and then find their way around a country where only Sage, Cye, and now Rowen knew the language.

Rowen had sent his response back to the university then waited for their response. About a month later he got back a packet of information, including the paper work he would need to fill out to become a student in America. Mia had helped him through the mountains of forms, and then had helped the 20 year old man get the shots and other tests that would be required for him to leave the county.

He was given a couple of weeks to wait, his university would be starting the end August, and he was allowed to move in mid August. He was going to move in as soon as he could so he could allow himself to adjust to the country and learn the surrounding city. That and he wanted to get away from his father as fast as possible.

The day had come almost to fast for the Ronin, but come it did. The day was almost nothing more than one big blur. He was awoken for a very sound sleep by Sage dragging him out of bed. The blond Ronin had smiled at him then reminded him that planes waited for no one. He had grumbled about getting a little more sleep, but Sage reminding him if he missed his plane there would be no America, no escape from his father. So forcing himself to move, he had gotten dressed and left the room. Making his way downstairs he found the others waiting for him, even Ully had made the trip to see him off. With a smile on his face he sat down in one of the chairs and ate breakfast. He knew it would be the last time he would be able to eat Cye's cooking for a while.

Watching everyone in the room Rowen felt a sudden pang of fear. This fear was unlike anything he had ever experienced, nothing not even coming up against Talpa had produced this type of fear. Ryo and the others noticed the fear that was on Rowen's face and reassured him he would be fine. Kento reminded him that he had an uncle in New York, which was about 5to 7 hours away from the school Rowen would be going to.

After calming himself down Rowen left the house, then Japan for at least a year. There had been tears in almost everyone's eyes. Mia had openly cried and hugged him before he got on the plane.

Getting off the plane in America, Washington DC to be exact Rowen was faced with customs. After waiting for several hours he got through them then made his way to the shuttle the university had send to pick up its new students. Making his way on the bus and to the back seat he caught conversations in Korean, Chinese, and several other languages, but no one spoke Japanese. The whole 3 hour ride Rowen spent staring out of the shuttle's window and thinking about his past.

When the shuttle pulled up in front of the university Rowen was the last one to get off, his fear had returned. He slowly moved to the front of the shuttle and left the safety he had felt in the vehicle.

Standing all alone on the edge of what appeared to be a park he waited while someone read off names on a sheet and various people from his shuttle where lead off by a guide.

"Rowen Hashiba?" The person suddenly called.

"I'm here." He said and walked forward.

The person who called him looked down then back to him.

"Thomas here will be your guide until you get used to the area. He will also be your roommate, you're in Johnson Hall, room 915." They told him.

Thomas walked forward and grabbed one of his bags then lead Rowen across the street and to a 12 story building.

"Johnson doesn't have AC so we get to sweat." Thomas told him making small talk.

The two walked past security after showing their IDs and rode one of the elevators up to the 9th floor. The two teens then walked to the room they would be sharing, and unloaded Rowen's stuff.

"Thanks Thomas." Rowen told him.

"Hey No Prob, by the way you can just call me Tom." The teen said and sat down on the bottom bunk of the bed.

"I'll try to remember that." Rowen said and for the first time wondered why he had decided to come to this country so far from his friends.

"English is your second language isn't it?" Tom suddenly asked.

Rowen glanced away from the window he was standing at and staring out at the outside city back to the other boy.

"Yeah it is."

"How long have you known how to speak it for?" Tom asked him.

"Only about a year, I got two of my friends to teach me." Rowen said, thinking of Cye and Sage.

"Well in that case, if you get confused let me know and I'll translate for ya, ok?"

"Thanks that would be a big help." Rowen said, beginning to calm down.

Thomas had then shown him the campus in all its glory and the two teens hit Hibbs for dinner, then went back to their room.

Over the next week and ½ Rowen got used to the city. That was after he got over his jet-lag. Then classes had started.

Rowen had walked into his 3rd class of the day, it just happened to be at 5, and sat far in the back so he would be alone. Suddenly a girl his age walked up to him, smiled at him, and asked if the seat next to him was taken. When he told her it was free she sat down and told him her name was Jennifer. Over the next couple of weeks Jennifer, or Jenny, got closer to him, until finally she asked him out.

They where a couple only a few days when Jenny first got him to go into her room in West Broad. This dorm unlike Johnson was, was set up 'apartment' style. In most cases it was 4 people, each with their own bedroom, who shared a kitchen, living room, and washer/dryer. There where also two bathrooms. Jenny had the big room; this one was separated from the others by the bigger of the two bathrooms. And as Jenny had pointed out and later proved no one could hear what happened in her bedroom.

**

Rowen was brought out of his memories when he silently slid into a seat in the back of the room.

He was late.

Again.

It wasn't him fault, yet Jenny glared at him.

"Sorry." He muttered.

She glanced at him once and looked back to the front of the room. He would have to get the notes later from her.

Rowen tried to concentrate on the lecture but was unable to. Tom had started to ask questions. 'Why did he jump any time someone came up behind him?' 'Why was he now wearing baggie clothing?' and others.

Time crawled by but finally the lecture ended.

"Come with me." Jenny said. It wasn't a question, it was an order.

The warrior of life stood and followed his girlfriend from the lecture hall and out onto the street.

"Jenny I'm sorry." He began but she cut him off.

"Look Rowen I don't care what the reason was. The fact of the matter was you were late." She paused in her yelling at him to cross the highway and sign him into her dorm.

The main reason he was late, and he would never tell her this, was due to her.

She led him up to her room and to her bedroom where she closed the door and locked it. Throwing on some music to cover any noise she walked across the room to him.

Rowen had sat down on her bed and was just waiting to see what she would do.

After checking once to make sure her shades where closed, she finished walking over to him. She sat down on the bed next to him. and slugged him.

TBC

************************************************************************* A/N: I used VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) due to the fact that I'm a student there. so yeah the places are right. Oh yeah I don't own VCU.

This is set after Gaiden, but I'm saying the whole thing with the black inferno armor never happened, and obviously Message didn't/isn't going to take place.